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(Gen. 12:3). Compare Jeremiah’s “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man” and “Blessed
is the man that trusteth in the Lord” (17:5, 7) Pagans used the power of “cursing” to deal
with their enemies, as when Balak sent for Balaam: “Come … , curse me this people”
(Num. 22:6). Israel had the ceremonial “water that causeth the curse” (Num. 5:18ff.).
God alone truly “curses.” It is a revelation of His justice, in support of His claim to
absolute obedience. Men may claim God’s “curses” by committing their grievances to
God and trusting in His righteous judgment (cf. Ps. 109:26-31).
The Septuagint translates
by
, its compounds and derivatives, by
which it comes into the New Testament. “Curse” in the Old Testament is summed up in
the statement: “Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant …” (Jer.
11:3). The New Testament responds: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree …”
(Gal. 3:13).
B. Noun.
(
, 423), “curse; oath.” Cognates of this word appear in Phoenician and
Arabic. The 36 Old Testament occurrences of this noun appear in every period of biblical
literature.
In distinction from
(“to curse by laying an anathema on someone or
something”) and
%
(“to curse by abusing or by belittling”),
basically refers to
“the execution of a proper oath to legalize a covenant or agreement.” As a noun,
refers to the “oath” itself: “Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest
to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath” (Gen.
24:41—the first occurrence). The “oath” was a “curse” on the head of the one who broke
the agreement. This same sense appears in Lev. 5:1, referring to a general “curse” against
anyone who would give false testimony in a court case.
So
functions as a “curse” sanctioning a pledge or commission, and it can close
an agreement or covenant. On the other hand, the word sometimes represents a “curse”
against someone else, whether his identity is known or not.
1
D
DAY
(
, 3117), “daylight; day; time; moment; year.” This word also appears in
Ugaritic, extrabiblical Hebrew or Canaanite (e.g., the Siloam inscription), Akkadian,
Phoenician, and Arabic. It also appears in post-biblical Hebrew. Attested at every era of
biblical Hebrew,
occurs about 2,304 times.